Category: Technique

  • 2025 Fall Hiraoka Judo Clinic

    Come and learn tachiwaza (standing techniques) and newaza (mat work) from Olympic and World medalist Sensei Hiroaki Hiraoka.
    Session 1: 9AM to 11:00AM
    (Juniors 5 yrs to 16 yrs)
    Session 2: 1 PM to 3PM
    (Seniors 1 7yrs+)
    Depending on the level of 13-16 yrs old judoka, they may be able to participate in the Session 2
    When: Saturday, September 13, 2025
    Where: Kentridge High School East 12430 SE 208th Street
    Kent, WA 98031
    Cost: $40 per session

    Additional information here

  • Judo Grip and Domination Camp – June 13-14 with Toni Lettner and Jenn Badertscher

    Reminder:

    we will not have practice this coming Saturday 6/14 as I am suggesting everyone attend this camp!

    Hi Judo Family,

    Ready to own every exchange from the very first grip? Join powerhouse coach Toni Lettner in beautiful Athol, Idaho (Home of the Northwest’s Largest Theme Park – Silverwood!) for two action-packed days dedicated to grip domination, big throws, and seamless Ne-Waza transitions.

    Why you can’t miss this camp

    · Master same side vs. opposite-side gripping, with tricks to out-grip even stronger opponents.

    · Unlock new takedowns: modified Te-Guruma, Sumi-Gaeshi and Foot Sweeps.

    · Elevate your own Tokui-Waza game from various grip positions.

    · Tons of randori to pressure test every skill you learn.

    Seminar Plan

    Friday June 13

    Time

    Group

    Focus

    2 pm – 4 pm

    Ages < 13

    Grip basics (kumikata fundamentals), footwork games, and intro to modified Te-Guruma

    5 pm – 7 pm

    Ages 13 +

    Advanced same-side & opposite-side gripping chains, Sumi-Gaeshi setups, transitions to quick holds & armlocks

    Saturday June 14

    Time

    Group

    Focus

    10 am – 12 pm

    Ages < 13

    Grip reaction drills, breaking strong collars, throws to hold-down flow

    1 pm – 3 pm

    Ages 13 +

    Dominant first-contact strategies, linking grips to your Tokui-waza, fast ne-waza finishes

    3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

    OPEN MAT (all ages)

    Randori gauntlet & live situational rounds, apply everything you learned!

    Quick Facts

    · Dates: Friday–Saturday, June 13-14, 2025

    · Venue: Athol Elementary School 6333 Menser Ave, Athol, Idaho 83801

    Lodging: Camping at Farragut State and Ravenwood RV Resort are great

    options. Airbnb and Hotels can be found in Athol, Spirit Lake, and

    Coeur d’Alene.

    · Eligibility: Current USJF, USJA, and USA Judo members, all belts, ages 6

    (sessions split by age)

    Lock in your spot now

    Registration opens today and will cap quickly. Click below, grab your teammates, and get ready to dominate the grip battle:

    https://usjf.smoothcomp.com/en/event/20389

    Questions? email t.lettner74@gmail.com or Lakelandjudoclub@gmail.com and we’ll help you out.

    Can’t wait to see you on the mats in Idaho’s lake country, let’s make every grip count!

    See you soon,

    Jenn Badertscher & Toni Lettner
    Judo Grip and Domination Camp 2025

  • Practicing to win is an error

    Judo Info site is an excellent resource for information about all aspects of judo.

    Judo Training Methods by Kazuzo Kudo has some good advice on important elements of judo practice. Sensei Anna Marie found this article and asked me to post it.
    Specifically, she highlighted:

    “Practice for practice sake is the basic element of progress. To repeat, practice for its own sake is the key to progress. Rather than thinking of throwing
    or downing your opponent, think that he is actually being good enough to become the model on which you can both polish up the techniques you are good in
    and learn many new techniques. Pay no attention if your opponent throws you or turns your own attack against you. Practice with the single idea of learning
    the body movements and the techniques themselves. In practice sessions use as many right techniques, left techniques, and counter attacks as you can. Naturally,
    with all this activity one of these practice bouts can only last two or three minutes. That is all right, but remember, work out, rest a moment, work out
    again, rest again, and keep this process going throughout the entire practice session.”

    The rest of the article is definitely worth reading too. I think all the advice he gives is good to keep in mind. We need to stop focusing on winning/beating our partner and instead improving our own technique.

  • Practicing to win is an error

    Judo Info site is an excellent resource for information about all aspects of judo.

    Judo Training Methods by Kazuzo Kudo has some good advice on important elements of judo practice. Sensei Anna Marie found this article and asked me to post it.
    Specifically, she highlighted:

    “Practice for practice sake is the basic element of progress. To repeat, practice for its own sake is the key to progress. Rather than thinking of throwing
    or downing your opponent, think that he is actually being good enough to become the model on which you can both polish up the techniques you are good in
    and learn many new techniques. Pay no attention if your opponent throws you or turns your own attack against you. Practice with the single idea of learning
    the body movements and the techniques themselves. In practice sessions use as many right techniques, left techniques, and counter attacks as you can. Naturally,
    with all this activity one of these practice bouts can only last two or three minutes. That is all right, but remember, work out, rest a moment, work out
    again, rest again, and keep this process going throughout the entire practice session.”

    The rest of the article is definitely worth reading too. I think all the advice he gives is good to keep in mind. We need to stop focusing on winning/beating our partner and instead improving our own technique.

  • Judo Counters & Combinations

    On Thursday, I was going on about the need to make all our attacks a sequence of throws. A setup attack, a main attack, a follow up attack and so on. During competition is the wrong time to improvise a series of attacks, you need to practice the series then in rendori you will do the series. As a starting point for some sequences of setup/attack/followups , take a look at: list of combinations.

  • Nage No Kata Clinic was Great!

    Nage No Kata Clinic group photo

    I just wanted to thank everyone who came to the clinic yesterday. Attendance was outstanding.
    In particular, I wanted to thank the Senseis Mike and Delynn Purcell for making the clinic possible at all. Also, the members of Columbia Dojo were outstanding!

  • Kata Clinic this coming weekend

    Just a reminder that we need everyone to be at the kata clinic this Saturday. Not only do all of us need to learn the kata, but the club needs your help. Please make sure you can attend.

  • Kata Clinic this coming weekend

    Just a reminder that we need everyone to be at the kata clinic this Saturday. Not only do all of us need to learn the kata, but the club needs your help. Please make sure you can attend.

  • Correction to Monday night Judo

    On Monday we went over a variation of Seoi nage not seoi otoshi.
    Thanks to Sensei Cheyenne for pointing this out.

  • Since we did DE ASHI BARAI last week

    This is a video of Neil Adams introducing the 40 throws of the Gokyo in judo.
    The first is DE ASHI BARAI.
    The rest is worth watching as well.

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy5ZMus1wNQGokyo